Joy Reid Compares MSNBC to Sesame Street

Former MSNBC host Joy Reid described her former network as akin to “Sesame Street for people” during a podcast discussion on Thursday, suggesting that many viewers felt like she was a close friend they could trust.

“MSNBC wasn’t just a network for countless people; it represented a lifeline in a landscape where most other channels seemed polarized. People believed that everyone at MSNBC was personally connected to them,” she shared in her podcast, “Rise Up! With Pete.”

This year, Reid’s show was canceled amid a broader restructuring at MSNBC.

She noted the diversity of her team, mentioning the range of backgrounds among them, including a small group of LGBTQ+ individuals and various ethnicities. It’s worth highlighting that opportunities for Asian Americans in media are pretty scarce.

Reid also reflected on the mixed reactions she received from audiences. While some white viewers approached her expressing their disappointment over her departure, she mentioned that Black viewers often told her they wouldn’t watch MSNBC anymore, saying they felt done with the channel.

In a later part of the conversation, she reiterated her comparison to “Sesame Street,” emphasizing how viewers often connect more with individual personalities than the channels themselves.

She pointed out that many follow her work through her podcast, “The Joy Reid Show.”

This week, MSNBC announced plans to rename itself as part of an ongoing Comcast rebranding effort. The network will now be called “My Source News Opinion World,” or MS Now.

Mark Lazarus, who will lead the new venture, told The Wall Street Journal that the channel aims to continue focusing on a progressive audience while ensuring representation from both major political parties.